Massage apparatus



Oct. 15, 1940. w E 2,218,443

MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1939 MM BY Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES ()FFlCE MASSAGE. APPARATUS David Tweddle, Los Angeles, Calif. Application September 14, 1939, Serial No. 294,946

It has been found that the application of vacuum to the area being treated provides a stimulating effect tending to increase the rate of blood 15 circulation. Accordingly, the provision of apparatus which will effectively create or produce a vacuum over the surface being treated provides a distinct advantage over many conventional types of massage apparatus. The material increase in 20 the rate of blood circulation makes such apparatus extremely useful in clearing up various types of congestion in addition to its usefulness in effecting a reduction in weight by the dissipation of fatty tissue. 255 The principal object of this invention is to pro vide amassage chamber with rotatable massaging elements mounted therein, and apparatus for reducing the pressure or creating a vacuum in the chamber.

A further object is to provide, in apparatus of the character referred to, novel mechanism for imparting movement to the rotatable massaging elements, and novel mechanism for actuating the vacuum producing apparatusytogether with com- 35 mon mechanism for driving such mechanisms from a single motor or source of power.

A further object is to provide a control for the vacuum producing apparatus for varying the amount of reduction of pressure in the massage chamber.

A still further object is to provide means for detachably supporting the massage chamber, permitting the use of chambers and massaging devices of Various sizeswith a single actuating dev1ce. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description. In the drawing, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this showing- Figure l is a top plan view of apparatus constructedin accordance with the principles of this invention. "55 Figure 2. is a side elevational View of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, parts thereof being broken away and shown in section.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure is a bottom plan view of the massage 5 chamber, showing the massaging elements mounted therein.

Figure 5 is a broken away side elevational view showing the manner in which the massage chamm ber is secured in position.

Figure 6 is a partial sectional View taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 3 showing the arrangement of parts of the driving mechamsm.

Referring to the drawing, A indicates, as a 15 whole a massage appliance provided with a casing B housing an electric motor (not shown) A massaging chamber is detachably secured to the casing 13 and is provided with massaging apparatus D mounted therein. A vacuum producing 20 pump E is secured to the casing B and is operable to withdraw air from the chamber C to effect a reduction of pressure in the chamber C. A common driving mechanism F is mounted in the casing B and is operated by the electric motor in the .casing B to impart movement to the massaging apparatus D while simultaneously operating the pump E to create a vacuum in the chamber C in a manner to be described.

The massage chamber C is in the form of a hol- 10w cylindrical cup shaped member i0 having an edge or rim I l defining an opening to the interior 62 thereof. The casing 13 is provided with a pro jection l3 having a pin it projecting outwardly therefrom. The projection i3 is receivable within a collar l5 formed on the upper part of the body ll] of the chamber C. The collar I5 is provided with angularly inclined grooves 15 in which the projecting portions of the pin M are receivable. In assembling the device, the projecting portions of the pin Ml are inserted in the grooves I6 and a turning movement is imparted to the body it." Such movement will cause the collar 15 to be cammed upwardly into engagement with the projection it to secure the chamber C to the casing B.

A rotatableshaft ll extends through parallel openings in the projecting member l3 and collar I5. Supporting shafts it are secured to the shaft ll at an angle with respect to the shaft ll. Spherical massaging elements ii! are rotatably mounted on the shafts it for free turning movement relative thereto. In order that the chamber C may be readily detached from the casing B the shafts it are secured to the shaft ll by a detachable carrying member 29, which may be readily removed from the shaft H to permit removal of the chamber C without interference from the massaging apparatus D.

The vacuum pump E comprises a cylinder 2| secured to the casing B and a piston 22 mounted therein. The head 23 of the cylinder ZI is pro:- vided with a projection 24 having a hollow cylindrical opening 26. A centering rod 21 is secured to the piston 22 and is slidably receivable within the opening 26 for centering the piston 22 during its reciprocating movement. The chamber C is connected to one end of the vacuum pump E by a conduit 28. A check valve 29 is provided to prevent the pump E from returning air to the chamber C. A check valve 30 is provided for preventing atmospheric air from entering the end of the cylinder 2| when the piston 22 is being operated in a direction to withdraw air from the chamber C.

In order that the amount of vacuum produced by the pump E within the chamber C may be controlled, the centering rod 21 is provided with a passage 3|. An opening 32 is formed in the outer end of the projection 25 for connecting the interior of the chamber C with the atmos phere through the opening 3!. A manually adjustable member 33 is provided for controlling the effective size of the opening 92 to permit the bleeding of air in various quantities into the interior I2 of the chamber C. By controlling the amount of air bled into the chamber C, it will be apparent that the amount of vacuum which maybe created by the pump E within the chamber C may be effectively controlled.

A driving shaft 34 is rotatably carried by supporting members 35 and 36 mounted in the casing B. A worm 3? is formed on the drive shaft of the electric motor (not shown) mounted in the casing B. A worm gear 38 is keyed to the shaft 34 and is driven from the electric motor through the worm 31. A worm 39 is keyed to the shaft 34 and is engageable with a Worm gear 49 keyed to the drive shaft I! for imparting a turning movement thereto whenever the driving shaft 34 is driven from the electric motor.

A crank or eccentric M is keyed to the outer end of the driving shaft 34 and is connected to one end of a bell crank lever 42, p-ivotally mounted in the casing B, by a connecting rod 43. The other end of the bell crank lever 42 is connected to the piston 22 by a connecting link 44.

When a rotating movement is imparted to the driving shaft 34, it will be apparent that the crank or eccentric 4I through the connecting rod 43 will impart a rocking movement to the bell crank lever 42 which through the link 44 will impart a reciprocating movement to the piston 22. Reciprocating movement of the piston 22 will operate to withdraw air from the chamber of the casing thereby reducing the pressure and creating a vacuum therein. The air evacuated from said chamber escapes to the atmosphere through the valve 30.

A packing member 45 is mounted in the collar I5 and is adapted to be compressed upon turning movement of the chamber C into close fitting engagement with the shaft IT to provide a vacuum seal for the chamber C.

In operation, the motor in the casing B is connected to a source of electric current to impart a driving movement to the driving shaft 34. As pointed out heretofore, such movement of the driving shaft 34 will operate to drive pump E to create a vacuum in the chamber C, and simultaneously impart a turning movement to the drive shaft I! for operation of the massaging elements I9. With the device operating in this manner, the rim I I of the cup I9 is placed in engagement with the surface of the area to be massaged. The vacuum in the chamber will draw flesh into the interior of the chamber C and into engagement with the massaging rollers or elements I9, which are, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, spaced inwardly of the rim I I.

The drive shaft will rotate the rollers or spherical massaging elements I9 about the axis of the shaft I1 and since such elements are freely rotatable about the axis of their respective supporting shafts I8, the frictional engagement with the surface being treated will cause the elements I9 to rotate about the axis of their respective supporting shafts I8 in addition to moving in a circular path about the axis of the shaft I1.

It will, therefore, be apparent that the elements I9 will roll over the surface of the area being treated with an effective massaging action. It will also be apparent that the walls of the cup I9 will prevent movement of the elements I9 endwise off 'the shafts I8 by centrifugal force.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is provided a novel apparatus for massage treatment, wherein the surface of the area being treated is effectively subjected to a reduced atmospheric pressure or vacuum in addition to a massaging action. By reason of the combined actions of the apparatus, its use for massage treatment will provide an effective aid to bad circulation and the troubles incident thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a casing, a motor in said casing, driving mechanism operable by said motor, a massage chamber, a vacuum pump connected to said driving mechanism for actuation thereby and operable to create a vacuum in said chamber, massaging devices mounted in said chamber, means connecting said devices to said driving mechanism for actuation thereby and means for detachably securing said massage chamber to said casing comprising a cam groove formed in the body of said chamber and a pin secured to said casing movable into said groove for causing a camming movement of said chamber into engagement with said casing when said chamber is turned relatively to said casing.

2. An appliance of the character described, comprising a casing, a motor in said casing, driving mechanism operable by said motor, a massage chamber secured to said casing, massaging devices mounted in said chamber, gearing connecting said massaging devices to said driving mechanism for actuation thereby, and means for creating a vacuum in said chamber comprising a pump having a cylinder and a piston therein, a crank associated with said driving mechanism and operable thereby for imparting a reciprocatory movement to said piston, a conduit connecting the interior of said chamber with said pump at one side of said piston, and check valve means permitting the evacuation of air from said chamber through said conduit and preventing the return of air to said chamber.

3. An appliance of the character described, comprising a casing, a motor in said casing, a massage chamber secured to-said casing, a drive shaft extending into the interior of said chamber,

a supporting shaft secured to said drive shaft at an angle thereto a spherical massage device rotatably mounted on said supporting shaft, means for creating a vacuum in said chamber comprising a pump having a cylinder and a piston therein, a conduit connecting the interior of said chamber with said pump at one side of said piston, check valve means permitting the evacuation of air from said chamber through said conduit and preventing the return of air to said chamber, and driving mechanism operable by said motor comprising gearing for operating said drive shaft and a crank connected to said piston to impart a reciprocatory movement thereto to create a vacuum in said chamber upon operation of said massaging device by said driveshaft.

4. An appliance of the character described, comprising a casing, a motor in said casing, a massage chamber secured to said casing, a drive shaft extending into the interior of said chamber,

a supporting shaft secured to said drive shaft at an angle thereto, a spherical massage device rotatably mounted on said supporting shaft, means for creating a vacuum in said chamber comprising a pump having a cylinder and a piston thereon, a conduit connecting the interior of said chamber with said pump at one side of said piston, check valve means permitting the evacuation .of air from said chamber through said conduit and prevent the return of air to said chamber, and driving mechanism comprising a driving shaft rotatably supported within said casing, gearing connecting said driving shaft to said motor for actuation thereby, gearing connecting said drive shaft to said driving shaft for imparting movement to said massaging device, and a crank keyed to said driving shaft and connected to said piston to impart a reciprocatory movement thereto to create a vacuum in said chamber upon operation of said massaging device by said drive shaft.

DAVID TWEDDLE. 

